Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Experimental and Applied Acarology, cilt.97, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of TcTV-2 in ticks collected from ecologically diverse regions of Türkiye. Between 2023 and 2024, ticks were collected from sheep, goats, cattle, and dogs across 14 provinces representing different ecological zones. A total of 1051 ticks have been collected and sorted into 10 different species. The most common ones were Haemaphysalis parva (26.4%), Rhipicephalus turanicus (23.7%), Dermacentor marginatus (11.6%), and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (8.1%), among others. The TcTV-2 RNA was detected in 15 (7.5%) of 199 tick pools using nRT-PCR. The virus was identified in pools consisting of the following species: Haemaphysalis punctata, Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Haemaphysalis parva, Hyalomma marginatum, Rhipicephalus bursa, and Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum. The polyphyletic distribution of the Turkish isolates suggests that these strains do not originate from a single source; rather, they likely reflect multiple introduction events or the accumulation of genetic diversity through prolonged local circulation. In particular, the observation that some isolates are clearly separated from other Turkish sequences further supports the heterogeneous structure of the viral population within Türkiye. Our findings suggest that TcTV-2 may occur in a wider range of tick species and ecological regions in Türkiye; however, further temporal and evolutionary analyses are required to assess potential expansion dynamics.